Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-02-17
THE FLAMINGOES.

IL WIS uUOul " tlOCh III tlC dllCI
noon, and Loanncc was riding at the
head of our column.
"Hello! snow" ne exclaimed, rs we
left the Valley of the Condors to descend
into the open plain.
Snow, in the month of March, and in
the southern hemisphere. TWAS enough
to make us fancy that our advance
guard had been sun-struck - fact
which could not have astonished us in
the least as the heat was absolutely tor
rid in the valley, If one might give the
name of valley to great mountain-gap
bordered by enormous rocks, whose de-
bris covered the soil as if to delay our
advance and to keep us still longer
time in this cursed place. The only
vegetation visible was represented by
some gigantic lichens, whose silver-col-
ored ramitications could hardly be dis
tinguished from that of the gray rock
to which they clung as if glued upon
it.
care you going crazyP" cried Charles.
"Well, you can see for yourselves.
II it isn't snow, it looks just like it. I'd
swear 1t was snow if the day was not so
hot"
The thermometer stood at 110 de-
grees.
We had no sooner reached the spot to
which our cOmrade had ridden in ad-
vance of us than we all uttered cry of
astonishment in unison. Not with
out reason! Before us, and limited APP
parently by the horizon only, stretched
an enormous sheet of dazzling white
ness, which under the burning sun
seemed to send out myriads of tiny
sparks. Indeed, one would have taken
it for snow.
Speechless with surprise, we turned
toward Barlejo and questioned him
with our eyes.
The vaqueano laughed TO himself; he
O.joynd nnr" nsrnnishment
1--WE are entering the great salines, !"
he said at last, when he thought our
patience had been sufficiently put to the
test
The salines! Don Cabral had told
US about them when we were convers-
ing about our route ut the EStancia of
Las Jarillas; but our Imagination had
never conceived spectacle so grandoiSe
in its uniformity.
As far as the eye could reach extend
ed q motionless ocean of salt as white rs
snow. Not one shadow in all that vast
panorama, which reminded us of the
immense Siberian steppes when winter
spreads his spotless shroud over that
kingdom of death and silencc-not one
single speck broke the monotony of
white.
Come, courage, nowr' said Barleio;
'.it's an ugly road 10 travel under sun
hot enough to roast an OK; but we've
got to cross it before night, for unless
we want to lose our horses we must
not think of camping in the salines."
"Are they very broad, these salines?"
'About dozen miles"
A dozen miles! Absolute misery for
our horses, which were kept all the
morning at a walk-thc only gait posi-
BILE in the Valley of Condors.
Squirting our animals, we started at q
gallop. ar5
The three gauchos had allowed us to
take the lead.
Our race did not last very long. The
moment our horses touched the salt
they stopped as suddenly as if nailed to
the ground-the salty crust cracked
under their feet with the crisp sound of
snow. Then. stepping forward very
cautiously, they proceeded at walk.
Fancy the prospect of riding twelve
miles under such conditions! And we
had hoped to ride across the salines at
gallop!
The heat was sitting. The white
glare of the salt-purifed and refined
innumerable times by washings and
dryings, rain and sun - absolutely
blinded us. Aud to crown our misery,
the north wind was blowing-that suf-
locating and enervating wind of the
southern hemisphere. We felt as if in
furnace; never breath of cool air
to modify the frightful oven-tempera-
ture., ~ g~san-f
The sunset came like an amiable
coquet, who, after having tantallzed her
adorers as long as possible, finally
takes pity on them. The last sunbeams
lent ruddy color to all the naked and
dismal landscape. Suddenly great
fire-red mass, that seemed to flash with
occasional lightnings, appeared upon
our left, while before us long band of
yerdure outlined itself sharply against
the whiteness of the salt. At the same
moment our horses neighed. They
scented water aud accelerated their
pace under the impulse of such desire
as only those who have travelled much
in deserts can comprehend.
Water! We were about to reach
water. Ssss a~.--
We urged on our horses with voice
and hand; we had almost reached the
lakelet when. at a signal from our
guide, we drew rein and stopped short.
The spectacle which presented itself
to our eyes was well worth halt under
any circumstances. s4r 4.
Emerging from the marshes, all in
line, like veteran infantry, 1000 or
5000 grallic birds, with extravagantly
long necks and legs, were majestically
advancing. Their body plumage was
a rosy-white; their wings fire-crimson.
''Los famcngos!' exclaimed Barleio